Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.44

c16.44

"Knowledge is open to anyone who is desirous of it," and "prayer alone qualifies for knowledge." Rāmānuja [on i, 3, 39] also seems to hold Śaṅkara responsible for the view that the Śūdra is not excluded from the highest knowledge ("cognition of Brahman") and tries to prove the error of the view. But Śaṅkara's real position (which he seems to misunderstand) is that it is the qualification which matters, and not the accident of birth and that the qualification once acquired (as the result of Vedic study) can never be lost in any subsequent birth. No kind of obstacle (e.g. Śūdrahood) can prevent Vedic study (made in a previous life) from producing its own fruits [Śaṅkara on i, 3, 38].